A Grand Don't Come For Free
by The Streets
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 226 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 180 out of 226
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 226
  3. Negative: 28 out of 226

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  1. Danm95VFF
    Apr 18, 2016
    8
    I remember when I was young and impressionable and I heard "Fit But You Know It" for the first time on the radio. I enjoyed its general quirkiness, and it was my first foray into the world of Mike Skinner. I had to pick the album up as soon as I could. Once I did I enjoyed it very much but it would take me several more years to appreciate its lyrics / story telling. Skinner was never yourI remember when I was young and impressionable and I heard "Fit But You Know It" for the first time on the radio. I enjoyed its general quirkiness, and it was my first foray into the world of Mike Skinner. I had to pick the album up as soon as I could. Once I did I enjoyed it very much but it would take me several more years to appreciate its lyrics / story telling. Skinner was never your average early 2000s British grime/hip hop artist. He was always keen to explore new lyrical territory and went all the way with his 2nd effort. Some of the rhyming and choruses are a bit awkward but if anything it better serves to capture the instability of a man at life's crossroads relationship and money wise. Empty Cans is quite the stand out as it provides the listener with two very different but both equally impacting endings to the story.… Expand
  2. Ricko
    Nov 30, 2015
    8
    A very original record with main man Mike Skinner blazing a trail for many acts that copied his approach to music. If he didn't single handedly create a genre, he at least should be classed as one of the most innovative musicians of the noughties. For all the praise you can heap on his approach to this record, there are still only a handful of pure genius moments. This is more than mostA very original record with main man Mike Skinner blazing a trail for many acts that copied his approach to music. If he didn't single handedly create a genre, he at least should be classed as one of the most innovative musicians of the noughties. For all the praise you can heap on his approach to this record, there are still only a handful of pure genius moments. This is more than most records but still, too many times the lyrics are repetitive and lack the cutting wit that is present on the best pieces on the record. His style of delivery, while electric on certain tracks, just doesn't work on others. This album is well worth a listen - some people absolutely love it but for me I mainly keep going back to the tracks "Blinded By the Lights" and "Dry Your Eyes". The album is worth listening through for those two tracks alone.… Expand
  3. brockcheese
    Apr 14, 2015
    9
    Wow. This album is even better than the first. The Streets have an excellent way of telling stories in such a picturesque way that it almost feels more like a movie than an album.
  4. Screenager
    Apr 17, 2013
    10
    An urban hip-hopera masterpiece. Mike Skinner is a genius when it comes to this type of thing and raps over a series of electronic samples and textures. Standout track is obviously Dry Your Eyes.
  5. JGreenwoodW
    Mar 2, 2013
    9
    This album is big in the game! Tells a quality story throughout and tells it from an average person's point of view from getting high to heart break. Quality stuff!
  6. louis-wilkinson
    Aug 15, 2011
    10
    brilliant from beginning to end,that all I need to say.
  7. EliT
    Aug 17, 2009
    9
    Incredible record. When I first listened to it, years ago, I was vaguely impressed, but not engaged. After a few listens some songs started sticking out, I began caring about the narrative more and more. Songs I hated became incredible, all leading up to one of the best closing songs of all time, Empty Cans. If you don't care for it now, give it a listen every 3 or 4 months, you may Incredible record. When I first listened to it, years ago, I was vaguely impressed, but not engaged. After a few listens some songs started sticking out, I began caring about the narrative more and more. Songs I hated became incredible, all leading up to one of the best closing songs of all time, Empty Cans. If you don't care for it now, give it a listen every 3 or 4 months, you may come around to love it.… Expand
  8. MattS
    Jul 28, 2009
    9
    One of my favorite albums of all time. When I first got this album I didn't really understand it. Then the song 'Empty Can's came up randomly on my shuffle on my MP3 player about six months later. I was absolutely blown away by the lyrics and immediately played the entire album from start to finish the way it was met to be. A fun and moving album that really relates to One of my favorite albums of all time. When I first got this album I didn't really understand it. Then the song 'Empty Can's came up randomly on my shuffle on my MP3 player about six months later. I was absolutely blown away by the lyrics and immediately played the entire album from start to finish the way it was met to be. A fun and moving album that really relates to pretty much any of us who fell in love at an early age, made a ton of mistakes, and eventually needed to pick themselves back up again.… Expand
  9. AP.
    Feb 20, 2008
    9
    Really cool album! People who say that they don't get it just don't listen to the words or even the music. The story is really cool and the beats are backing vocals are great. (Try out Dizzee Rascal's Boy In Da Corner if you like this) It may at first be a little hard to get used to (being American, it's hard to at first get past the accent) but it's ultimately rewarding!
  10. pADDYA
    Jul 15, 2007
    9
    Got this for
  11. AlexP
    Jun 12, 2007
    9
    Americans don't get this record. LOL at Americans.
  12. LaviniaH
    Jan 19, 2007
    10
    loved it
  13. dannyw
    Jan 13, 2007
    10
    mint
  14. AlexB
    Dec 14, 2006
    10
    One of the best albums I have listened to in a long time.
  15. Pelicaine
    Oct 28, 2006
    9
    Some of the most unique beats I've ever heard. This album is well put-together. An enjoyable story that gets better with each listen. Get this album any way you can! A must-hear.
  16. Scholesy
    Oct 19, 2006
    10
    Better than OPM. MUCH better. This album is a true storytelling classic
  17. ChrisT
    Oct 13, 2006
    10
    Skinner is lyrically amazing. His songs flow is great, and is accent while rapping is an amazing asset to his songs. He can take really normal situations, and relay them in a perfect sence.
  18. SAVAGETOAST
    Aug 8, 2006
    7
    Not as good as the critics say. i'd recomend buying "original pirate material" by them. i find this album slow and preachy. A 7
  19. SimonE
    Apr 21, 2006
    10
    It's at least as good as his first album.
  20. jw
    Mar 29, 2006
    8
    This is not Original Pirate Material. Yes, whereas OPM had its brief valleys here and there ("Sharp Darts" and "Geezers Need Excitement" come to mind), A Grand Don't Come For Free maintains basically the same quality throughout. Owing to the carry-over storyline and the similarity in the beats, it does not waver much from side to side. But neither does it soar as high as OPM when it This is not Original Pirate Material. Yes, whereas OPM had its brief valleys here and there ("Sharp Darts" and "Geezers Need Excitement" come to mind), A Grand Don't Come For Free maintains basically the same quality throughout. Owing to the carry-over storyline and the similarity in the beats, it does not waver much from side to side. But neither does it soar as high as OPM when it shined its brightest - and did that album ever shine! We may be able to blame this on the absence of that pleasant surprise wow that accompanied one's discovery of Skinner's first effort. And maybe it just isn't as good. Certainly the humor is back in spades; "It Was Supposed to be so Easy" and "Get Out of My House" make sure of this. There is no pulsing call to arms reminiscent of "Turn the Page" or "Let's Push Things Forward." Nothing as emotive as "It's Too Late." No dreamy memorial like "Weak Become Heroes." A Grand... plays over a day or maybe two, and bounces from one crisis to another, one encounter to the next. It's excellent at that, and interesting and funny and worth checking out. It just isn't Original Pirate Material. And for that it can be forgiven.… Expand
  21. TimD
    Mar 29, 2006
    10
    A simply brilliant album. Has to be heard to be believed. Great story
  22. sachep
    Mar 28, 2006
    10
    Incredible, unique, - a genius is born.
  23. TomR
    Mar 19, 2006
    10
    First off, THIS IS NOT HIP-HOP OR RAP! THIS IS NOT your normal music. So for all of you who expect that and can't handle a truly new form of music, move on. This is for those of you that GET music, that recognize someone that is not only good for creating something new, but also for the genious it. It's a form of spoken word over overly complex programming...mostly off beat. First off, THIS IS NOT HIP-HOP OR RAP! THIS IS NOT your normal music. So for all of you who expect that and can't handle a truly new form of music, move on. This is for those of you that GET music, that recognize someone that is not only good for creating something new, but also for the genious it. It's a form of spoken word over overly complex programming...mostly off beat. This album is a story. It's emotion. It's human. The beats are random at first, but organized and structured perfectly to complement Skinner's delivery. A Grand creates a world for the listener to drop into. It's not your life, it's not what you're used to hearing, and that's the whole point. It's a reflection of experiences, of maturing, but still maintaining one's identity. From the unknowing opening to the retrospective conclusion, most people should be able to relate to this. A stellar follow up to Original Pirate Material, and one count the days until the release of The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living and see how Mike's perception of life has changed.… Expand
  24. PaulV
    Mar 11, 2006
    10
    I hate rap, and I mean REALLY HATE. But this album? it's absolutely fantastic - It's just plain unique, Skinner has created an absolutely amazing, unique and creative album that has nothing else to compare with. Some nice easy background music. 100% recommended - and just to reiterate, I _HATE_ rap, but BUY THIS!
  25. davec
    Feb 28, 2006
    10
    i love this album its great. blinded by the lights is awesome
  26. JoshS
    Feb 12, 2006
    9
    A great follow-up album and depicts a young-single man's life with his mates, girls and money excellently
  27. Paulie
    Jan 4, 2006
    9
    The spirit of Ian Drury lives on .
  28. Kel
    Dec 1, 2005
    10
    The album that follows a successful debut LP presents a significant problem. Do you rinse, wash and repeat the previous formula, hoping that it will sound just as good the second time round, or do you attempt to explore new territory with the risk of alienating old fans and failing to acquire new ones? A copy-cat album would most likely have seen The Streets branded as a one hit wonder The album that follows a successful debut LP presents a significant problem. Do you rinse, wash and repeat the previous formula, hoping that it will sound just as good the second time round, or do you attempt to explore new territory with the risk of alienating old fans and failing to acquire new ones? A copy-cat album would most likely have seen The Streets branded as a one hit wonder parody and this undoubtedly played on his mind as he attempted to conjure up an album that would stay true to his everyday UK style roots whilst, at the same time, charting new waters. This he has achieved by producing an intoxicating mix of old and new. There are many thematic similarities between 'A Grand Don't Come For Free' and 'Original Pirate Material'. For 'Blinded By The Lights' read 'Weak Become Heroes'. For 'Fit But You Know It' read 'Don't Mug Yourself'. For 'Dry Your Eyes' read 'It's Too Late'. But it's here that the similarities end, for unlike its predecessor, 'A Grand Don't Come For Free' can be loosely termed a concept album. But unlike the pretentious art-rock efforts of years gone by, AGDCFF is not a po-faced attempt at communicating the meaning of life to a mentally … Expand
  29. critic.xhost.ro
    Aug 7, 2005
    10
    the whole album story is greatly depicted, very nice tracks and awesome beats, esp "blinded by the light" and "dry your eyes"
  30. rogers
    Jul 28, 2005
    10
    This CD is incredible. I can listen to it all the time and get something new from it. To Trust or not to Trust that is the name of the Game.
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best Album of 2004
11
#11 Most Discussed Album of 2004
36
#36 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Vibe
    70
    11 frenetic, oddball, and extremely original tracks. [Jun 2004, p.154]
  2. The New York Times
    70
    The problem with "A Grand Don't Come for Free" is that the pieces often work better as stories than as songs.... But it is still a thrill to hear Mr. Skinner toy with the form that he invented.
    Read full review
  3. Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
    83
    This makes engrossing listening if the effort suits you, but it's useless as background music.
    Read full review
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